Leading Indianapolis Law Firms: A Comprehensive List

How to Find the Right Law Firm

When you’re faced with a legal issue, whether it’s personal or professional, choosing the right law firm to handle your case can be a daunting task. With so many options to choose from in a city as large as Indianapolis, selecting a lawyer you can trust with your case is crucial to your case’s success. Most importantly, look for firms that handle your type of case. Firms specializing in a wide array of services and practices are typically well-equipped to handle your case. Be sure, however, that they have both the experience with and the reputation for successfully handling your specific situation. Consider the firm’s client reviews , practice areas, and past cases when making your decision. Once you narrow down your list of qualified candidates, book consultations with a few of them. Most law firms should be willing to do a free consultation so you can gauge your comfortability with their lawyers. Your case is important, and you want to feel confident moving forward. There are many reasons why one firm may work better for you than another, and why one lawyer may be more experienced in the area you need than another. This is what the consultation is for—to establish rapport and ensure you’re confident in your choice before agreeing to work with the firm.

Recommended Law Firms

When searching for a law firm in Indianapolis, there are many factors to consider. One of the easiest and most effective ways to separate the good from the great is to look for firms that have received one or more prestigious awards. Another way to make your search easier is to consult a recent list of the top-ranked law firms. The U.S. News & World Report’s 2018 "Best Law Firms"- a collaboration between U.S. News & World Report and Best Lawyers- includes 11 firms based in Indianapolis for Business organizations, Labor and Employment, Medical Malpractice Law, Personal Injury Litigation, Family Law, Health Care Law, and Tax Law. Of course, the most reputable firms won’t just be awarded Baltimore Business Journal – exclusive honors. The international organization Chambers and Partners, which rates lawfirms all over the world, has also hailed some of the greater Indianapolis law firms as the Best Law Firms in their respective fields. Chambers & Partners compiles their rankings from a large database of law firm interviewees. Chambers editors conduct extensive, in-depth interviews with lawyers and clients to find out who they would personally recommend when seeking quality legal guidance. Firms are nominated for inclusion on the list, and only the very best make it through the interview and research process. "A Band" ranked firms has been identified as:

Fogarty & Hara, P.C.
Frost Brown Todd LLC’s Indianapolis Corporate/M&A and Employee Benefits teams
Hall, Render, Killian, Heath & Lyman P.C.;
Kightlinger & Gray LLC’s General Commercial Litigation team;
Lewis Wagner LLP’s Employment Law – Management team;
Tierney, Zito & Starr;
and Cohen Garelick & Glazier;

Areas of Practice

As is the case with many modern law firms, the top law firms in Indianapolis offer a wide variety of legal specializations. Common areas of practice include family law, personal injury, and criminal defense. Many of them have several practice groups to serve clients in different capacities, and some of these practice groups are more specialized than others.
The area of practice that gets the most attention for most law firms in Indianapolis is family law. Family law attorney in particular are in high demand. These lawyers can represent clients in a wide range of family law matters, and the services of such lawyers extend far beyond divorce, child support, and property division. For example, many of the top family law practitioners in Indianapolis also handle child custody and visitation, modification and enforcement of court orders (for child support and child custody), guardianships, prenuptial agreements, postnuptial agreements, adoption, and even foster care and adoption by third parties. Some Indianapolis family law firms even offer lesbian marriage/parenting law (which includes domestic partnership agreements).
Personal injury is also a popular area of law for many top law firms in Indianapolis. Many of these law firms will offer free consultations to personal injury clients. These consultations often include discussions of benefits for personal injury liens in Indianapolis. Personal injury litigators provide legal services to clients in cases involving vehicle accidents, dog bites, medical malpractice, industrial accidents, wrongful death, product liability, premises liability, and other types of negligence claims.
A third common area of specialization for many of the top law firms in Indianapolis is civil litigation. There are many high-quality civil litigation firms in Indianapolis. These firms in general have significant experience with commercial litigation, business formation, employment disputes, construction defects and mechanics’ liens, product liability and recalls, auto accidents, employment contracts, product liability, and insurance claims. Houston-based Baker Botts has a decade-long presence in Indianapolis. Baker Botts is a top business and commercial litigation firm in Indianapolis. Baker & Daniels is another full-service Dallas-based firm that has been providing top-tier legal services to clients in Indianapolis for over 150 years. Faegre Baker Daniels is another great commercial litigation firm in Indianapolis with top-notch reputation among Indiana lawyers.

Legal Fees in Indianapolis

Legal fees at law firms in Indianapolis can vary widely depending on the size and prestige of the firm, the type of service you need, and the complexity of that service. Hourly rates are one of the most common fee structures. This means that the law firm will charge you for the amount of time they spend working on your case, typically by the hour.
The average hourly rate for lawyers in Indianapolis is around $175, but that figure can be more than double or even triple for larger firms with more resources and more experience.
Another common fee structure is a contingency fee , which is an arrangement where the lawyer only gets paid if they win your case. In personal injury lawsuits or other services with financial payouts, this might be a flat rate or a percentage of the award. In this case, you provide the attorney with a limited amount of money for fees, and if the case ends in your favor, you both benefit. If it doesn’t, then the attorney only takes home so much from your account for the legal work already performed.
One frequently overused words in legal advertising is "affordable." These are typically the firms that either do not do the legal work themselves or have large staffs of secretaries and paralegals. Remember, you get what you pay for.

Client Reviews and More

Client testimonials serve as a powerful affirmation of a law firm’s capabilities, providing potential clients with insights into the experiences of others. In this section, we explore several testimonials from individuals who have worked with some of the best law firms in Indianapolis.
One such firm is Bingham Greenbaum Doll LLP, known for its stringent vetting process in assembling a top-notch team. "My attorney at BGD was absolutely fantastic," shared a former client. "She handled my case with utmost professionalism and communication was seamless. For anyone seeking a top-rated law firm in Indianapolis, I highly recommend BGD."
Commonwealth Law LLC also has received high praise. "When my brother was facing criminal charges, we knew we needed the best. We sought a well-known name in the industry in Indianapolis and found Commonwealth Law LLC. We are grateful for their amazing work and continued support," said another satisfied customer.
Schmidt & Crabtree, P.C., a relatively new player in the market, is already garnering positive reviews. "We were fortunate to find Schmidt & Crabtree when we were facing a complicated divorce and custody case. Not only did we feel like we received excellent representation, but we also appreciated how accessible and responsive the attorneys were." A new and rising favorite, Schmidt & Crabtree is making its mark in the Indianapolis legal scene.
These are just a few examples of testimonials we received. The response to the post has been overwhelmingly positive, with requests flooding in from the top 20 law firms in Indianapolis.

Navigating Legal Services in Indianapolis

In addition to the multitude of law firms, Indianapolis is home to several legal resources designed to support clients in their search for legal representation. Legal aid societies provide clients with valuable information and services as they navigate this complex process. The IndyBar Association, for instance , offers free lawyer referrals through their Find a Lawyer program. This is a free and straightforward way for clients to obtain traditional attorney referrals. In addition, the IndyBar hosts access to Legal Answers from IndyBar staff attorneys and statewide referral and legal aid resources. These types of legal resources can be invaluable in helping clients make informed decisions about their legal representation.